Terrific trio in Asian Boxing Championships semis

Amit Panghal (right) during his quarter-final bout against Kharkhuu Enkhmandakh in Dubai. Pic/BFI

Defending champion Amit Panghal (52kg), Vikas Krishan (69kg) and debutant Varinder Singh (60kg) advanced to the semi-finals as India's assured medal tally went up to an unprecedented 15 in the Asian Boxing Championships here on Wednesday.

Second successive medal

Panghal secured a second successive medal after overcoming a stiff challenge from Mongolia's Kharkhuu Enkhmandakh in the Last 8 stage, while Varinder defeated Filipino Jere Samuel Dela Cruz 5-0.

Vikas Krishan and Varinder Singh

India's previous best medal haul was 13, achieved in 2019. The World Championship silver-winning Panghal, who is bound for the Tokyo Olympics, won 3-2 in a high-octane contest in which he overcame a sluggish start and used his combination punches to telling effect in the last two rounds.

Panghal will square off against Kazakhstan's Saken Bibossinov. He had beaten Bibossinov in the 2019 World Championship finals. Meanwhile, Vikas defeated Iran's Moslem Maghsoudi Mal Amir 4-1 in the quarter-final.

He will face the top seed and reigning Asian Games and Asian Championships gold medallist Baturov Bobo Usmon of Uzbekistan in the semi-final.

Medal on debut for Varinder

National champion Varinder scored on counter-attacks against the swift-moving Dela Cruz to secure a medal on debut at the event.

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